//------------------------------// // Epilogue - Dual Discovery // Story: Dual Discovery // by Jonny Manz //------------------------------// “Thank you, for everything you’ve done.” Twilight tilted her head downward. “Hm? Whatever do you mean, Gallus?” “Helping me and Silverstream re-discover what we had thought was lost, what you came up with to allow us to be together much more often. Y’know, nothing big,” Gallus replied, slipping back into his old snark for a split-second. “Oh, she did the heavy lifting there, I can’t really take credit for that. As for the second part, I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Twilight said, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Sure, Princess, sure.” At that point, Luster Dawn walked up to the two. “This is a really nice proceeding, Princess, and Guard Captain. I’m also really glad you’ll be accompanying me to Ponyville, Guard Captain – the School of Friendship seems like it’ll be really fun! Plus, I have so much to learn.” Gallus raised an eyebrow at Twilight, smirking the whole time. “What? Can’t a princess assign the best possible protective duty to her personal protégé?” Gallus chuckled to himself. “Oh wait! I just thought of something! Won’t you have to give up your position if you come with me, Guard Captain?” Luster Dawn exclaimed. “No, he won’t, Luster Dawn. He will officially remain captain, and whenever he is in Canterlot on official business, he will resume his duties. For the rest of the time, I will name an acting captain to take over the duties. This arrangement will last for a year or so, to evaluate its effectiveness.” “Oh, okay, that makes sense.” In the background, bells started ringing. “It looks like the ceremony is about to begin. Luster Dawn, you’d better go ahead and take your seat,” Twilight said. “Alright, I’ll meet up with you after the ceremony, Guard Captain.” The ringing reached a crescendo, as the trumpeters began to play. “Ready to see your bride, Guard Captain Gallus?” Gallus gulped, tugging at the collar of his tuxedo. “I kinda want to say ‘no’, but I know I should’ve done this a long time ago. So yes, absolutely.” The doors opened, and in walked Silverstream, wearing a gown of flowing lace that accentuated her figure perfectly. It was easy to believe that Rarity had had a hoof in the making of it – harder to believe was that Yona, Smolder, and Ocellus had also assisted in the design. Gallus’s heart started thumping faster in his chest – it didn’t truly feel real before now. The entire walk up to the dais only took a moment but to the both of them, it felt like an eternity. Silverstream stopped, pivoted, and looked Gallus in the eyes, a gaze he returned. Twilight smiled, looking at the two of them. “Fillies and gentlecolts, every creature, we are gathered here to celebrate these two creatures being joined in holy mare-trimony, the Guard Captain Gallus the griffon, and his bride, Silverstream the hippogriff.” The rest of the ceremony flew by like a blur – the vows, the “I do’s” – though it was all they could do to keep their composure. Finally, the part of the ceremony they had been waiting for happened when Twilight said, “You may now kiss the bride!” Gallus swept Silverstream off her claws. Their beaks met and then parted, their tongues dancing an electric waltz of unremitting joy. Both would later admit that it surpassed even their first kiss. “Alright, so you’ll be on your honeymoon for about a month, and then you’ll meet up with Luster Dawn at the School of Friendship.” “Thank you so much for this, Your Majesty,” Gallus said, embracing Twilight. “Yeah, thank you thank you thank you!” Silverstream exclaimed, joining in the embrace. “Alright, go have fun, you two lovebirds!” Twilight said with a wink. Gallus and Silverstream looked at each other and grinned, getting in the carriage labeled “Just Married”. Twilight was watching, waiting for the carriage to take up, when a figure flew in next to her. “Oh, hey Spike!” “Hey, Twilight. That was some wedding, huh? They sure do make a good couple.” “They sure do.” Spike scratched his chin. “Hey, Twilight?” Twilight grunted, “Hm?” “Gallus mentioned to me that he had been having a recurring dream, of the time that he and Silverstream broke up. Considering that Luna transferred that part of her powers over to you, did you have anything to do with it?” “Hm, you know how, way back when, those stars just happened to break Nightmare Moon free from her 1,000-year moon imprisonment?” Twilight responded. “Yeah, but what does that have to do-“ Twilight cut him off. “Well, remember how, at that point, the whole sky – the sun, moon, and stars, were under the control of one Princess Celestia?” Spike’s eyes widened. “Wait, are you saying-“ “It was something Princess Celestia told me. One of her powers was foresight – the ability to read situations, see how they will play out in the future. Well, see how they’re supposed to play out. That came right away – what she developed later was a sense for when things could be trusted to play out on their own, and when they needed a little nudge in the right direction,” Twilight finished with a wink. “When I looked into Silverstream’s eyes, that was when I knew for sure that the time was right.” “You know, you’re becoming more and more like her every day.” Twilight just smiled from ear to ear. With that, the carriage with Gallus and Silverstream took off, the cans clinking behind them. It would take them to their honeymoon, and then on to the rest of their lives. Lives that would be contented – because they would be spending them with each other. THE END “Geeze, what is it with Equestrian Royal Guard Captains marrying royalty?” Spike suddenly spoke up. When Twilight looked at him quizzically, he continued, “Well, I mean, Silverstream is Queen Novo’s niece, so that makes her, like, a duchess, right? And then of course there was your brother and Princess Cadance, of course.” “Oh, that reminds me,” Twilight said, a candle being lit above her head. “I do believe I won our little bet, as they got married less than 6 months after Hearth’s Warming.” Spike sighed. “Fine, fine, I’ll supervise the castle for a day, so you can personally oversee the reshelving of the Royal Canterlot Library.” Twilight squeed.